Boston-based wind farm developer faces new challenge as it tries to solve mystery of Hawaii fire

A plume of toxic smoke is one of the last things I would expect to see at a wind farm. Unfortunately for a Boston-based wind farm developer, that’s exactly what neighbors of the Kahuku wind farm in Hawaii got to see after a battery-filled warehouse went up in flames last week.

First Wind spokesman John Lamontagne tells me the company is working with Xtreme Power, the battery manufacturer, to figure out what caused last week’s fire on Oahu’s north shore. No one was injured in the blaze, although the local news media quoted a number of people expressing concerns about the hazardous smoke and the possibility of similar incidents in the future.

Those concerns probably won’t have much of an impact here in New England, because First Wind has no plans to use that technology at its wind farms in this region. Only 5 percent of First Wind’s 980 megawatts of generating capacity, either in operation or under construction, rely on these Xtreme Power batteries, Lamontagne said. The other place the batteries are used is a portion of the Kaheawa wind farm on Maui.

First Wind has become a major player in Hawaii, with a number of wind farms completed or under way. But this high-profile incident could present a new political challenge for the company as it seeks to continue its expansion in the Aloha State.

Every telephone company in the United States has strings of large 1 and 1/2 volt batteries .These batteries are refered to as submarine batteries.

Since World War ll submarines have been using this type of battery charging system . The phone companies have used the battery strings since the 1940s. The telephone headquaters at Franklin Street in Boston have one square block of batteries on one of the floors of the building .Never had and accident !

The Hawaii wind turbine battery fire is a lack of any kind of safety with no fire suppresion on hand . This is what happens when they give these contractors PTC,ProductionTaxCredits !

These turbines are supposed to be environmentally sensitive ? These turbines are being sited to close to residential home owners . Falmouth, Fairhaven and Kingston all have major noise complaints . People are fed up with these turbines that look like a giant tooth brush sticking out of a toilet . The residents are the original stakeholders!

Wind power .What a shame or should I say sham .
I have seen the turbines ,As a visitor they are ugly and are not what you would expect in paradise .Vermont Maine New York are now facing these MOUNTAIN TOP REMOVAL eye sores .

First Wind doesn’t have what one would consider an exemplary track record. Ties to the Mafia, financial difficulties, conflicts of interest…and our experience in Maine has been with a corporate giant who cares little for the environment or the people who live in the communities surrounding their projects. Simple research will show exactly what kind of an outfit we’re all dealing with. Maine said NO to FW’s Bowers project, and yet, John LaMontagne immediately disregarded the decision of the regulatory agency and stated that they would return with a revised application. Ever since then, FW’s minions have been on the ground in the Bowers region trying to convince local guides and others to change their minds by meeting with them privately and asking “What can we do for you?”

There is a long story about many people leaving Massachusetts Gov Patricks administration and going to work for commercial wind turbine contractors or starting their own study firms for commercial wind . Gov Patrick even uses an email pseudonym “Sally Reynolds” when communicating with wind turbine contractors.

How can these companies stay in business with the loss of a building this size ?

We have seen the poor siting of commercial wind turbines and the loss of property rights in Falmouth ,Fairhaven and Kingston ,Massachusetts . Gov Patrick looks like the CEO of all the wind turbine companies in Massachusetts .

Gov Patrick has given NIMBY -Not In My Back Yard and new meaning now it’s Next It May Be You …..

No doubt there are unpleasant underbellies to Cape Wind, like most other deals of this magnitude. I don’t condone such behaviour. But to your comment (Ed, and anyone else thinking this way) about concerns for mountaintops (et. al.), if we DON’T find a way to start getting these projects done, we’d better all have our own mountaintop to live on, lest we drown in the rising sea levels. Read National Geo, SciAm, whatever. The ice sheets are disintigrating at alarming rates fater than anyone has predicted. The folks on Beacon Island (formerly Beacon Hill) may have some adjustments to make in how they do business, but…

Kahuku by First Wind has a $117 million loan for (12) Clipper Wind turbines under Trade Secret– they fail. And Kahuku has spectacularly failed. So we are now on the hook for First Wind’s failing wind project and Xtreme Power battery failures, by grants and loan guarantees.

Nixon Peabody law firm Trade Secret request regarding Clipper Wind Liberty 2.5 MW wind turbines to be used in Hawaii by First Wind:

“…This information is not publicly available, and would, if disclosed, cause Clipper substantial competitive injury. As a result, we would ask that this information be treated as a trade secret or information which, if disclosed, could cause injury to Clipper’s competitive position pursuant to Public Officer’s Law Sections 87.2(d) and 89(5) and 16 NYCRR Section 6-1…”

Paul Gaynor, CEO of First Wind stood comfortably with Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie, Rep Mazie Hirono, and
HECO CEO Dick Rosenblum at the grand opening of the Kahuku Wind energy project on Oahu’s North Shore Thursday.
As he should.

The Financial Times September 14, 2010 explains:

First Wind–formerly known as UPC Wind–got its start in wind energy by launching Italy’s IVPC–a company now subject to a record breaking asset seizure by Italian police.

Italian anti-mafia police have made their largest seizure of assets as part of an investigation into windfarm contracts in Sicily.
Officers confiscated property and accounts valued at €1.5bn belonging to a businessman suspected of having links with the mafia.